NBA slaps Fizdale with $30,000 fine

SAN ANTONIO – The NBA on Wednesday fined Memphis coach Dave Fizdale $30,000 for ripping the referees that worked the Spurs’ 96-82 victory over the Grizzlies on Monday night.

Fizdale called the officiating in Game 2 “unacceptable” and “unprofessional” after the Spurs held off a late Memphis rally to gain a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It was a very poorly officiated basketball game,” Fizdale said. “Zach Randolph, the most rugged guy in the game, has zero free throws, but somehow Kawhi Leonard had 19 free throws.”

Leonard finished with a playoff career-best 37 points after making all 19. The Grizzlies attempted 15 free throws, 17 fewer
than the Spurs, even though they attempted 35 shots in the paint, 17 more than the San Antonio.

“I’m not a numbers guy, but that doesn’t seem to add up,” Fizdale said.

The two-minute tirade was great theater, with Fizdale’s voice getting louder throughout.

“Kawhi shot more free throws than our whole team, explain it to me,” the first-year head coach said. “We don’t get the respect that these guys deserve because Mike Conley doesn’t go crazy. He has class and just plays the game. But I’m not going to let them treat us that way. I know (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has) got pedigree and I’m a young rookie, but they are not going to rook us.”

“That’s unacceptable, unprofessional. My guys dug in that game and earned the right to be in that game, and they didn’t even give us a chance.”